US President Donald Trump said that the hostages were heroes in a meeting with 17 recently released captives and their families at the White House on Thursday.
The released hostages arrived in Washington, DC, to meet with Trump and several other senior US officials.
The hostages who attended included Matan Engerst, Omri Miran, Bar Kuperstein, Nimrod Cohen, Ziv and Gali Berman, Ariel and David Kunio, Matan Zangauker, Ilana Gritzewsky, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Segev Kalfon, Evyatar David, Eitan and Iair Horn, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Avinatan Or, Noa Argamani, Eitan Mor, and Elkana Bohbot.
The group also met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Attorney-General Pam Bondi, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
In his remarks, Trump said that former hostage Matan Angrest was subject to additional beatings.
"Because of service in the IDF, Matan was subjected to severe beatings, even at times losing consciousness. And alone and under a special guard, he went through hell," Trump said in his remarks. "I guess you really were. I've heard stories that were not good. It just made you tougher, right? It did, made you tougher. Matan never broke, and today he's a living testimony to the toughness, heart, and faith of the Jewish people. You're a great inspiration to everybody, whether you're Jewish or not."
The released hostages were hosted by the Lobby for the Return of Abductees and Captives, by representatives from French Hill, Arkansas, and Haley Stevens, Michigan.
The delegation of hostages met with members of Congress who advocated for his release.
"When I was kidnapped from Nahal Oz and separated from my family, my eldest daughter ran after me and shouted 'Dad!'" said released hostage Omri Miran.
"For half a year, I did not know what had become of them, until I saw Lishi on television. I knew I had something to live for when I saw her. Today, my daughter says 'Dad,' and I am here, answering her. It is thanks to you."
Berman twins gift Trump mezuzah from Kfar Aza
Gali and Ziv Berman were among the 17 hostages who went to visit the White House and are expected to give Trump a mezuzah from their ruined home in Kibbutz Kfar Aza.
“We came to say thank you to the president of the United States for the many actions he took for our release," the Berman twins said in a statement.
In a note to the president, the twins expressed their gratitude for the administration's efforts to free them from Hamas captivity.
"A gift from Kfar Aza, in honor of President of the United States Donald J. Trump. This mezuzah was lovingly removed from the door of Gali’s room, in our home at Kibbutz Kfar Aza, a community that endured unimaginable horrors on October 7, 2023. The mezuzah survived. Gali survived. And now, this sacred item survived," the note reads.
"Out of deep respect and heartfelt gratitude, we present you with a small yet powerful symbol of protection and faith, drawn from the ruins of tragedy, as a gesture of honor and appreciation for your efforts in securing the return of the hostages. May it stand as an enduring testament to courage, faith, and the eternal friendship between our peoples. The Berman family."
This is a developing story.